Electromagnetic gas tank lock



Dec. 7, 1937. P. sHAFFl-:R

ELECTROMAGNETIC GAS TANK LC CK Filed Nov. 9, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 7, 1937.

P. sHAFFER- 2,101,758 f ELECTROMAGNETIC GAS TANK LOCK Filed Nov. 9, 193e 2 sheets-snee# 2 l M lNvENroR ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFICEM v p 2,101,758 Y Y ELECTROMAGNETIC cms TANK Loon` Phillip Shaffer, Mitchell, Nebr.

Application November 9, 1936, Serial No. 110,015

. 3 Claims.

This invention relates to electromagnetic gas tank locks and has for an object to provide a `novel slip clutch assembled with the tank cap to permit the cap to swivel in locked position, when an attempt is made surreptitiously to pilfer fuel, and prevent breakage of the parts.

A further object is to provide a novel retaining disc locking tube and retaining disc for locking the cap in closed position.

A further object is to provide a solenoid having a spring pressed plunger adapted to hold Vthe locking tube against rotation until the solenoid is energized, the plunger being withdrawn to ineutral position when the solenoid is energized and frictionally engaging a seat on the locking tube to yieldably hold the locking tube against accidental rotation due to vibration when the cap is removed.

Y With the above and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the -spirit or sacricing any Y of theadvantages of .the invention.V Y

In the accompanying drawings formingpart of `this specification, l

Figure `1 is a longitudinal sectional v view through an electromagnetic gas tank lock constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a'bottom'planview ofthe fillingf tube cap. Y i

Figure 3 is a bottom plan viewof the retain- Ving disc and showing Vthe clutch face thereof.

Figure 4 is atop plan view of the clutch disc showing the clutch face thereof.

Figure 5 isa crosssectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow-heads with portions broken away to show the lugs of the locking disc in position to lock the'capfagainst removal. Y,

Figure is a plan view of the locking tube with portions broken away to show the lips loi? the tube. Y

Figure 'I is a longitudinal sectional view Ythrough the iilling tube and locking tube'with the cap removed.

x Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 'I looking in the direction of the arrowheads;`A l Y i i Figure 9Vis Ya cross sectional View of the lling l tube withthe locking tube removed' andftaken on the line 9-9 of Figure 7.

' Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, I il designates a iilling tube of Van automobile gasoline tank II, the tube having an inwardly curved flange I2 at the top provided Y with oppositely disposed slots I3, best shown in Figures 5 and '1. Y

Thecap Ill is provided with a depressed central portion which as usual is inserted in the filling tube. The bottom wall I5 of the depressed portion is provided with a `central opening of substantially oblong contour to receive a bolt I6 the sides of which are cut away from the end 'of the bolt to thehead I'I thereof to conform to vthe contour Vof the opening and to be nonrotatably received therein. Y

A retaining disc I8, forming onev member of Ya slipV clutch, isY provided with a circular central opening I9 to rotatably receive the neck of the bolt. The disc isprovided at diametrically opposite points with locking lugs 29 and the bottom face of the disc is corrugated radially as shown at 2I to. provide a clutch face. A clutch disc 22 is provided with a substantially oblong central opening 23 to non-rotatably receive the bolt I6 below the retaining disc. Y corrugated radially as shown at 2li on the top yface to provide a clutch face which confronts the clutch face of the retaining disc. The bolt is equipped with a Vnut 25 which is anchored against escape by a cotter pinV 26. A helical spring-2l is sleeved on the bolt between the nut and the clutch disc 2 2 and yieldably holds the Vclutch disc in frictional engagement with the retaining disc.,

A retaining disc locking tube 28 is rotatably mounted in the iilling tube above an inturnedV flange 29 formed on the bottom of thelling tube Ill, as best shown inV Figures '7 and 9. The VVlocking tube is corrugated longitudinally and the corrugations are interrupted transversely to form arseat 3i!V at one end of which an opening 3l Vis formed to receive a plunger 32 for holding the locking tube stationary.

The plunger is mounted in the bore of a sole- Vnoid 33 which is Vfixed to the side ofthe filling tube below the apron 34 which conceals the gasoline tank Il. The solenoid is provided with The clutch disc isY a threaded stud 35 which is received in a threaded Y socket 36 on the lling tube to mount jthe solenoid. A helical spring 31 is coni-ined under tension in the bore of the solenoid and tends con- Ystantly to urge the plunger against the locking` unlock the cap, and prevents too free rotation of the locking tube.

The locking tube is provided at the upper end with a downwardly curved flange 38, which is nested in the similarly shaped ange I2 of the filling tube and is provided with oppositely disposed slots 39 adapted to align with the similar slots I3 of the lling tube flange when the locking tube is rotated to unlock the cap I4 as will be presently described. A pair of lips 46 are arranged at the ends of each slot 39 in the locking tube flange and the lugs 20 of the retaining disc I8 are received between the lips, as best shown in Figures 1 and 5.

When the cap I4 is rotated, after the plunger 32 has been withdrawn from the locking tube by energizing the solenoid, the lugs 20 will move the locking tube with the cap as a unit until the slots I3 and 39 of the lling tube and locking tube flanges come into registration whereupon the cap may be removed vertically from the filling tube. When replaced, the cap may be rotated in a reverse direction, the lugs 2E! then rotating the locking tube suiiiciently to bring the opening 3i of the locking tube into registration with the plunger, whereupon the plunger springs into the opening and holds the locking tube stationary. At this `time the lugs 2i] are disposed underneath the downwardly curved iiange I 2 of the filling tube, as best shown in Figures 1 and 5, and lock the cap against being removed vertically from the filling tube.

By virtue of the opening I9 in the retaining disc rotatably receiving the bolt I6 the cap I4, bolt I and clutch disc 22 may be freely swivelled as a unit on the filling tube, such movement being retarded to a certain extent by slipping of the clutch face of the clutch disc upon the clutch face of the retaining disc. The retaining disc I8 remains stationary during such swivelling movement of the cap by virtue of the lugs 2D being disposed between the lips di) of the locking tube, and the locking tube itself being held stationary by the plunger 32.

The solenoid may be energized through suitable circuit wires controlled by a switch within convenient reach of the driver so that the plunger 32 may be withdrawn. The switch may be opened after the plunger is withdrawn and after the cap has been rotated suiciently to carry the opening 3| out of registration with the plunger thus economizing in current.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas tank lock for a tank having a anged iilling tube and a cap having a portion insertable in the tube, said lock comprising a retaining disc having a slip clutch connection with the cap permitting the cap to swivel when the locking tube is in locked position, a spring pressed plunger on the filling tube adapted to engage the locking tube to lock the tube stationary, withdrawal of the plunger permitting the locking tube to be rotated to released position, and locking lugs projecting from one of the slip clutch members and engageable underneath the ange of the lling tube for locking the cap to the tube, said lugs being slidably connected to the locking tube and being rotatable with the locking tube when connected therewith.

2. A gas tank lock for a tank having a flanged filling tube and a cap having a portion insertable in the tube, said lock comprising a retaining disc having a slip clutch connection with the cap, and provided with locking lugs engageable underneath the flange of the lling tube to pre- Vent vertical removal of the cap, a locking tube rotatably mounted in the lling tube, lips on the locking tube engageable with the lugs for connecting the locking tube and the retaining disc for rotation as a unit, there being registering slots in the ange of the filling tube and in the locking tube permitting vertical removal of the cap and retaining disc when the locking tube is rotated axially, and' a spring pressed plunger on the filling tub-e engageable with the locking tube to lock the locking tube against rotation.

3. A gas tank lock for a tank having a flanged lling tube and a cap having a portion insertable in the tube, said lock comprising a retaining disc having a slip clutch connection with the cap, a locking tube having a downwardly curved flange at the top nested in the flange of the lling tube, there being slots in both flanges adapted to be brought into registration by rotation of the locking tube, locking lugs on the retaining disc adapted to pass vertically through the slots of both flanges to permit removal of the cap, lips on the locking tube engaging the lugs for connecting the locking tube and retaining disc to rotate as a'unit to bring said lugs into or out of registration with said slots, a circumferentially disposed seat on the locking tube, a spring pressed plunger carried by the lling tube and frictionally engaging said seat when the locking tube is rotated to prevent too free rotation, there being an opening in said seat into which the plunger projects to lock the locking tube stationary, and means for withdrawing the plunger from said opening to release the locking tube.

PHILLIP SHAFFER. 

